UPDATED - Jan. 9, 1:35 p.m.
A 51-year-old Greater Sudbury man is in the hospital with several injuries after the snowmobile he was a passenger on struck a pressure crack on Lake Panache sometime before 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.
The man was in a sled being towed by the snowmobile, and he was not wearing a helmet. He suffered a broken arm and wrist, spinal injuries and head injuries. He remains at St. Joseph's Health Centre for treatment, according to a release from Greater Sudbury Police.
The severity of his spinal and head injuries has not been indicated.
Snowmobilers are urged to take safety precautions, "including the wearing of a helmet and appropriate attire," stated the police in the release. Any sled being towed by a snowmobile is also required to be towed by a fixed tow bar, which prevents the sled from continuing forward when the snowmobile stops.
In this incident, the snowmobile was properly towing the sled with a fixed tow bar, but the passenger was not wearing a helmet.
"Riders should be cognizant of the ice conditions and are reminded that conditions can change daily depending on the weather," reminded the release.
